Vandalism a sign of disrespect in Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree National Park is one of the few remaining sacred spaces where Americans and tourists can enjoy solitude and quiet - an increasingly rare find in our society.

But some of the noise of our modern cities - the visual sort - has infiltrated the desert and left its mark on the rocks and canyons that form Joshua Tree. Vandals have hit parts of the park hard, and in a rare move officials have closed a 308-acre area where graffiti has become a huge problem.

What a disgrace. When taggers target Joshua Tree, one of California's and the nation's historic jewels, they desecrate not only the natural beauty of the place but the memories of those who lived there thousands of years earlier. The 792,623-acre park is rich with clues about the lives of its earliest inhabitants and the cattlemen, miners and homesteaders who followed, with more than 700 archeological sites, 88 historic structures and 19 cultural landscapes preserved under the federal Desert Protection Bill of 1994, according to the U.S. National Park Service.

Rattlesnake Canyon, one of the more easily accessible areas of Joshua Tree near Indian Cove campground, about 20 miles east of Yucca Valley, is especially threatened by vandals, park officials report. The 308-acre closure targets this area, where park officials have documented 17 sites marred by graffiti. One ranger called the damage "the most extensive" recorded in his 20 years with the park service.

The fact that vandals are apparently proud of themselves makes their lack of respect for a federally protected park all the more despicable.

It's bad enough when taggers mark up businesses, homes, bridges or park benches - now some have targeted an area revered for how little it reflects modern society's influence. Because of the selfish actions of these few, all visitors to Joshua Tree will be barred from Rattlesnake Canyon until at least April 30.

Park officials say the recent increase in graffiti at Joshua Tree thankfully is an anomaly nationally. Vandalism in national parks has been on the decline the past decade, with about one-third fewer reported incidents since 2003.

Another bit of good news: Park officials will work with volunteers to remove as much graffiti as possible from Rattlesnake Canyon, though it's uncertain if every site can be restored to its pristine condition.

In the meantime, visitors to Joshua Tree and other national parks, monuments and wilderness areas throughout the nation really must do their part to protect these natural wonders for years to come. Next time someone gets the urge to leave a crude drawing or unintelligible scribble on a granite boulder - their childish attempt at a "we were here" moment - remind them that nobody cares.

Southern Californians and visitors are drawn to Joshua Tree and other national parks to enjoy a respite from the hoi polloi and its shortcomings, not be reminded of it.